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Monday, July 31, 2006

Now the Journey Begins

Well, we had the orientation meeting for adoption this past Wednesday. It left me feeling excited and nervous. Overall though, it was great. The process goes like this:
1) Fill out and return the preliminary application
2) Do a livescan and get a TB test
3) Have prelim application approved and be assigned to a social worker
4) Home visit where they check for child safety in and around your home.
5) 6 weeks of training
6) Approval for foster care
7) Home study
8) Approval for adoption

So, we have a lengthy process ahead of us. It is sad some of the statistics we found out. Since we are adopting through the county, many of the children are removed from their homes. Only 50% are reunited with their parents. That is so sad, because the county pays for the parents to go through rehab and job training. They pay for the parents to do the right thing and they still don't.
What is also sad is 99% of these children, and newborns, are born with drug addiction. A vast majority of that is methanphetimine. Almost all of the children have little effect from the drug, with the most common being ADHD/ADD.
What is crazy, something we weren't expecting, is that we will receive money from the state for adopting our child. And, our adoption fees are zero. There is no cost at all. We will receive from the state about $425 a year, and that goes up as the child gets older. That is not the reason we are adopting this child, but that is wonderful because it will help pay for childcare.

So, now we are finishing the application to return, and on August 12 we will go get our livescan, TB, and schedule our homestudy and training.

This is going to be a crazy year, I can already tell!

Monday, July 17, 2006

So great

Well, we are back from vacation. It was so beautiful, and so wonderful. Total relaxation is a good word to describe it. Fishing, hiking, horseback riding, and hanging out with those you love it what I call a good vacation!

I realized today that we are just 9 days from adoption orientation. Then the process is started! I'm so excited and nervous...I'm ready for it to be the 26th!

Also, I am only 2 weeks from my surgery. I'm a little nervous, but hoping that that will make my lovely periods more bearable. We'll see. I'm trying not to think about it too much. I'm a worryier, so if I think about it too much, I'll make myself sick!

I'm having some random thoughts/fears about adoption. Mainly I'm worried that my maternal instincts won't kick in and I won't know what to do. I worry that all that happens during pregnancy, and without that, I won't be ready for sleepless nights, knowing what the baby wants, being able to comfort the baby, etc. Am I totally irrational? Does a birth parent worry about all this?

Monday, July 03, 2006

Fun Weekend

This was a great weekend. Saturday I babysat my nephew all day, and yesterday I spent the day with him and his parents swimming. It was so fun! I am exhausted though. My nephew is 3, and he totally tired me out. I loved it though.
Saturday we leave for vacation. We are going camping for 8 days in the mountains. My parents, brother, E's grandpa, and my previously mentioned nephew and his parent's (my best friend and her hubby) will be there. We will be fishing, hiking, swimming, and going to a local ghost town. I can't wait...a whole week off. I'm not sure what I will do with myself! I'm sure I will figure it out...

Only 4 more days...yippee!